Bedok class mine countermeasures vessel

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Bedok class MCMVs berthed at Changi Naval Base during the Navy Open House 2007
Class overview
Name: Bedok
Builders: Kockums, ST Engineering (Marine)
Operators: Republic of Singapore Navy
Completed: Four
Active: Four
General characteristics
Type: Mine Countermeasures Vessel
Displacement: 360 tonnes (standard)
380 tonnes (full load)
Length: 47.5 m (156 ft)
Beam: 9.6 m (31 ft)
Draught: 2.3 m (7.5 ft)
Propulsion: Four Saab Scania DSI 14 diesel engines, coupled to two Voith-Schneider propellers
Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h)
Range: 2,000 nautical miles (4,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 33 (5 officers and 28 men)
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Navigation radar: Norcontrol DB2000 I band navigation radar
Sonar: Thales Underwater System TSM-2022 hull-mounted mine hunting sonar
Armament: Bofors 40 mm gun, CIS 50 12.7 mm machine guns, ECA PAP Mk V mine disposal vehicles
Notes: Ships in class include: RSS Bedok (M105), RSS Kallang (M106), RSS Katong (M107), RSS Punggol (M108)

The Bedok class are mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They play an important role in the maritime security of Singapore, ensuring that the Singapore Strait and the sea lanes surrounding Singapore remain mine-free and open to international shipping. It is estimated that closure of Singapore’s ports would result in direct trade losses amounting to more than $1.2 billion a day, posing a serious threat to Singapore's economy.[1][2] The four ships form the 194 Squadron of the RSN.

Contents

[edit] History

The RSN acquired mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities as early as 1975, when the United States Navy's USS Thrasher and USS Whippoorwill were reactivated by the RSN's engineers and technicians in California. These Bluebird class coastal minesweepers were commissioned as RSS Jupiter and RSS Mercury respectively. RSS Jupiter was scrapped on 15 August 1986 and RSS Mercury was decommissioned on 31 March 1993. The need for modern minehunting vessels saw Singapore entering into an agreement with Sweden in 1991 to purchase four Landsort class MCMVs.[3]

Name Pennant Number Launched Commissioned
RSS Bedok M105 June 1993 7 October 1995
RSS Kallang M106 January 1994 7 October 1995
RSS Katong M107 April 1994 7 October 1995
RSS Punggol M108 July 1994 7 October 1995


[edit] Design & construction

The ship's design incorporates a number of features important for mine countermeasures – low acoustic and magnetic signatures, as well as shock resistance to underwater explosions.

The Bedok class is made of glass-reinforced plastic, designed by the Swedish Navy and Kockums. Its low magnetic and acoustic signatures reduces the possibility of setting off mines. It is highly durable, fire- and shock-resistant, easy to repair and is maintained only by painting.[4] The ship's bridge, major combat equipment and engines are also shock-mounted to cushion against underwater explosions.[5]

Each of the Bedok class MCMV is powered by two independent vertical Voith-Schneider propellers, designed specifically to ensure excellent manoeuvrability and low noise signature.[6]

The first ship, RSS Bedok, was built by Kockums (then known as Karlskronavarvet) in Sweden based on the Landsort class design. The hulls of the remaining three ships were prefabricated in Sweden and transferred to Singapore for final assembly by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine.[7]

[edit] Mine countermeasures

Each ship carries two ECA PAP Mk 5 remotely operated mine disposal vehicles from France, for the identification and destruction of mines. The MCMVs also work closely with the explosive ordnance disposal divers from the Naval Diving Unit for mine disposal.[8] The Bedok class is equipped to control the Kockums remote-controlled catamaran minesweepers.[9] The ships are also capable of laying a defensive minefield.[10]

[edit] Sensors

The Bedok class is equipped with a Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar) TSM 2022 hull-mounted minehunting sonar. The sonar has a detection range of 2 km (6,600 ft) for submarines and 500 m (1,600 ft) for mines. The classification range for a mine is typically 200 m to 300 m.[11]

The ship's navigation radar is the Norcontrol DB2000 operating at I band.

[edit] Major exercises

The ships frequently participate in exercises with various countries. These include:

  • Western Pacific Naval Symposium MCMEX/DIVEX, a multinational exercise involving 21 countries[12]
  • Exercise Bersama Padu, a Five Power Defence Arrangement exercise[13]
  • Exercise Mercury, an annual exercise with the United States Navy[14]
  • Exercise Lejon Singa, an annual exercise with the Swedish Navy[15]
  • Joint MINEX, an annual exercise with the Indonesian Navy[16]

[edit] Significant events

After the crash of SilkAir Flight MI 185 on 19 December 1997 in the Musi River near Palembang, RSS Bedok, RSS Kallang and RSS Punggol were deployed as part of a Singapore Armed Forces contingent to assist Indonesian authorities in their search and recovery operations near the crash site.[17]

The RSN was the first navy invited by the Indonesian Navy to conduct MCM operations to clear World War II mines off Tanjung Awar Awar, 70km north-east of Surabaya in February 1997. RSS Bedok and RSS Kallang, together with two Indonesian Navy vessels, successfully neutralised eight buried mines.[18]

The ships were also involved in search and rescue operations after a Royal Navy Westland Lynx helicopter crashed into the South China Sea together with its two personnel onboard during a training exercise on 23 September 1998.[19]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Republic of Singapore Navy (2007). Onwards and Upwards. SNP International Publishing. ISBN 981-248-147-8. 
  2. ^ The Republic of Singapore Navy. Navy League of Australia. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  3. ^ Keeping our waters safe: The MCMVs of 194 Squadron. MINDEF. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  4. ^ Landsort class mine countermeasure vessel, Sweden. Naval Technology. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  5. ^ Safe in my wake.... MINDEF. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  6. ^ Landsort class - an outstanding MCMV. Kockums. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  7. ^ Daniel Todd, Michael Lindberg (1996). Navies and Shipbuilding Industries: The Strained Symbiosis. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 027-595-310-6. 
  8. ^ Republic of Singapore Navy (2007). Onwards and Upwards. SNP International Publishing. ISBN 981-248-147-8. 
  9. ^ SAM. Kockums. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  10. ^ "Coastal Defence Forces (Singapore)" (May 2007). Jane's Amphibious and Special Forces. 
  11. ^ Landsort class mine countermeasure vessel, Sweden. Naval Technology. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  12. ^ Yuankai, Lin (August 2006). Always Safe in our Wake. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  13. ^ Ex Bersama Padu 06 (August 2006). Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  14. ^ Squadron Exercise to Test Mine Warfare Training. United States Navy (July 2002). Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  15. ^ Republic of Singapore Navy and Royal Swedish Navy Conduct Annual Exchange Program, Ex Lejon Singa. MINDEF (June 2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  16. ^ Singapore and Indonesia Navies Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Bilateral Exercise. MINDEF (July 2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  17. ^ Yuankai, Lin (March 2005). COSCOM Muscles Up For Challenges Ahead. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  18. ^ GPC-DFA Members Given Insight Into Mine Hunting Operations. MINDEF (October 1997). Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  19. ^ "UK navy co-pilot missing after helicopter crashes", The Associated Press, Turkish Daily News, 1998-09-25. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.